Improvement in breech-loading fire-arms



W. H. ,& G. W. MILLER.

Breech-Loading Fire-Arm.

No. 47,902, Patented May 23, 1865.

ZNOJgSSES: 1% wwl/ N. PETERS. PHOTO \JTHOGRAPHER W'M. H. MILLER AND GEOIW. MILLER, OF WVEST MERIDEN, CONNECTICUT, ASSIGNORS TO EDMUND PARKER, OF SAME PLACE.

IMPROVEMENT EN BREECH-LOADING FIRE-ARMS.

Specification forming part of Letters Patent No. 73902, dated May 23, 1865.

T0 (tZZ whom it may concern:

Be it known that we, V. H. MILLER and G. WV. MILLER, of WVestMeriden, in the county of New Haven and State of Connecticut, have invented a new and useful Improvement in Breech-Loading Fire-Arms; and we do hereby declare that the following is a full, clear, and exact description thereof, which will enable others skilled in the art to make and use the same, reference being had to the accompanying drawings, forming part of this specification, in which- Figure l is aside elevation of this invention, showing the connection between the breech-block and the shell-extractor. Fig. 2 1s a longitudinal vertical central section of the same, the line g y, Fig. 3,.indicating the plane of section. Fig. 3 is a horizontal section of the same, taken in the plane indicated by the line 00 as, Fig. 2. Fig. at is a side elevation of the same, representing that side containing the hammer and lock, with the breech-block closed down and the hammer at half-cock. Fig. 5 is a similar view of the same with the breech-block open.

Similar letters of reference indicate like parts.

The object of this invention is to convert in an easy and simple manner, ordinary Springfield muskets into breech-loaders without disturbing the lock or any part connected therewit the inner surface of the breech-block and catching into a notch or groove in the barrel when the breechblock is closed down, takes up the recoil and relieves the pivot connecting the breeclrblock with the barrel from all strain. From the hinged breech-block or from its pivot extends a spring-arm, which is aptime.

A- represents the rear end of the barrel of an ordinary Springfield musket. This barrel is secured to the stockB in the ordinary manner, and it is converted into a breech-loader by cutting off a portion of its rear end and closing the breech by the hinged block C.

block, on being opened, turns back to a position shown in Fig. 5.

a wedge-shaped projection, a, which, when the breech-block is closed, fits into a tapering seat, I), cut in' the cone-seat c, as clearly shown in Fig. 4. This projection is bored out to re- The invention consists in the application of ceive the plunger d, by means of which the a tapering socket in the cone-seat of a musket charge is exploded, and when the breechto receive a wedge-shaped projection extendblock is down said plunger occupies the poing from the side of the hinged breechblock, sition which in the ordinary musket has been which swings over the top of the barrel, and occupied by the cone or nipple, and conse with a plunger passing through said wedgequently the hammer will strike the same with shaped projection in place of the cone, in its full force, and no alteration is required combination with the ordinary lock and hamin the construction of the lock or in the ar' mer, in such a manner that a cartridge placed rangement of its. parts. Furthermore, by into the barrel can be exploded by the action making the projection a wedge shaped, it of said hammer without disturbing its original assists in keeping the breech-block tightly position or changing any other portion of the closed. When the breechblock is closed lock, and at the same time by the wedge-shaped down, it is locked by a spring-bolt, e, the head projection a shoulder is formed which assists of which is tapering, as shown in Fig. 2 of the in holding the breech-block in place when the drawings, and which drops into a tapering same is locked. A spring-bolt, with a tapersocket in the rear end of the barrel. This ing or parallel head and dropping'into a corbolt is raised by a handle projecting from its responding seat in the breech of the barrel, upper end, and it is depressed by a spring, serves to lock the breech-block, and, in conwhich is concealed in its interior. A ridge nection with a tongue or ridge projecting from From one side of the breechblock extends This ejector or tongue, f, projecting from the inner surface of the breech-block and catching into a groove, in the barrel when the breech-block is closed, takes up the recoil and relieves the pivot a of all strain caused by the force of the explosion. A sprin g-arm ,h, which is connected to the breech-block or to the pivot on which the same swings, projects down over the side of the barrel and serves to operate the ejector t. slides back and forth in a recess on the side of the barrel, and it is provided with a nose, the inclined surface of which faces toward the rear end of the barrel. If the breech-block is closed down, the arm h slides up the inclined plane of the nose and catches over its point, and if the breech-block is raised said arm throws the ejector backward and the empty shell is removed from the barrel. In practice, a suitable spring will be connected to the ejector to draw the same back as soon as the spring-arm releases its nose. By this arrangement the operation of the ejector is rendered simple, easy, and infallible, and the musket can be fired with very great rapidity.

Our hinged breech-block can be attached ridge f,

with little trouble to any musket of the ordinary construction, and such muskets are converted into breech-loaders with a comparatively small expenditure of labor.

Having thus described our invention, we claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent 1. The breech-block O, hinged to the top or sides of the barrel A, and provided with a wedge'shaped projection, to, to fit in a corresponding recess in the parts being constructed substantially as herein specified, so as to admit of the conversion of a muzzle-loading to a breech-loading gun without change in the construction or arrangement of the stock, lock, or hammer.

2. The combination of the spring-bolt e, and groove 9 with hinged breechblock 0 and barrel'A, constructed and operating substantially as specified, and employe to sustain the recoil in form.

XVM. H. MILLER.

G. W. MILLER.

\Vitnesses:

Gno. A. FERY, ORVILLE H. PLATT.

cone-seat, all the said 

